Meth fight likely to be a long one

Thursday, February 25, 2016

CODE, WING, FBI and some other cooperative law enforcement agencies with acronyms for names were involved in a year-long investigation that led to the indictment of 63 people throughout South Central and Southwest Nebraska and Northeast Colorado.

Kansas wasn't included in the U.S. Attorney's news release Wednesday, but we've noticed a lot of methamphetamine arrests around Northwest Kansas in recent weeks as well, and it's doubtful drug dealers worry about state lines.

The names and more information about the Nebraska and Colorado arrests will be released at a press conference Friday in North Platte.

It's tempting to draw comparisons between current meth production and trafficking and old-time liquor bootlegging, but the comparison breaks down when it comes to the damage meth does to its users.

And, despite shows like "Breaking Bad," most of the drug is now manufactured south of the border, thanks to laws making raw products like pseudoephedrine harder to come by in quantity in the United States.

Arrests for manufacturing have become rare in our area, and most of the meth follows the "meat packing" trail up from Texas, according to law enforcement officials.

Fortunately, corruption is the exception rather than the rule in American, but such is not the case in Mexico. For some insight, check out the "Cartel Land" documentary currently streaming online, and up for an Oscar this year.

If it is to be believed, the meth problem is going to be with us for a long time.